Protest at Dalai Lama prayer ban

Buddhists have held protests in Nottingham against the Dalai Lama's banning of a prayer.

The protesters, including monks and nuns, said the ban on the prayer worshipping the spirit of Dorje Shugden was "unjust".

In a BBC interview, the Dalai Lama said he had not advocated a ban, but he had stopped the worship of the spirit because it was not Buddhist in nature.

The protesters said they wanted to discuss the issue with the Dalai Lama.

Kelsang Perma, a Buddhist nun, said: "We are here because we have been trying to petition the Dalai Lama.

"It is a simple prayer that encourages people to develop pure minds of love, peace and compassion."

The exiled Tibetan leader said people were free to protest and it was up to individuals to decide.

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